Improvement in shaft-couplings for vehicles



` ZUNrrED STATES PATENT OFFICE- JOHN D. M() REY, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN -SHAFT-COUPLINGS FOR VEHICLES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent N o. 171. [59, dated December 14, 1875; application filedl November 30, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. MOREY, .of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Im proved Shaft or Pole Coupling for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to so construct a shaft-coupling for4 vehicles that an unmanageable horse can be readily detached 5 and this object I attain in the manner which I will now proceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of sufcient of a carriage and its shafts to illustrate my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the same; Fig. 3, an enlarged section. illustrating the operation of the device; and Fig. 4, a detached view of a modilication.y

A is the front axle of the vehicle,and B the shafts, the inner ends ofthe latter being attached by means of open hooks a to pins b, secured to brackets d on the said front axle. On the under side of the axle A, in line with the end of each shaft, are brackets e, to each of which is hung a lever, D, the inner ends of the two levers being connected by means of a curved b ar, E, and their outer ends, when in the position shown in Fig. l, projecting under the hooks a of the shafts B, and serving to keep the same in their proper vertical n position with respect Vto the pins .17.

In the present instance the inner end of each of the levers D,is provided with a curved arm, F, which extends 'downward until it touches or nearly touches the upper edge of the plate, which forms the hook a ofthe shaft, with which said arm F corresponds. Passing through a bearing on the perch-pole H of the vehicle is a rod, l, the upper end of which extends into the body, (see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) and is there furnished with a suitable operating knob or handle, while its lower end is furnished with an opening adapted to the bar E. The rod I is acted upon by a spring, f, the tendency of which is to depress said rod and keep the lever D in the position shown in Fig. 1. The levers D are connected together at the front by means of the transverse bar g, so as to maintain at all times causes the descent of the ends of the curvedv arms F, which strike said. hooks, and force them down clear of the pins b, as` shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, when the shafts are entirely free' from the vehicle, and the horse is at liberty to run.

It will be evident that by the above arrangement an unmanageable horse can be almost instantly detached from a vehicle, and d this can be effected by the occupant without moving from his seat, or incurring any risk.

The device can be applied to the pole, as well as to the shafts of a vehicle, and, irrespective of its safety, affords a simple and ready means of attaching or detaching said pole or shafts.

Detaching-arms F of different form and arrangement from that shown may be employed without departing from my invention; for instance, said arms F may be attached to or form part of the bars g of the levers D, as shown in Fig. 4, or may form part ofthe levers themselves, the result in either case be-` ing the same.

I preferito connect the inner ends of the levers B together by means of the curved bar E, as this form does not interfere with`the free turning of the front axle.

Different forms of springs may be employed for depressing the rod I, and, if desired, the spring may be placed within the carriage, instead of beneath the same.

It .will be understood that my improved coupling can be used with equal facility in cases where the shaft or pole is connected to the carriage at but a single point instead of at two points, as shown and described.

I claim as my invention- In testimony whereof I have signed my l. The combination of the shaft or pole of name to this specification in the presence of a vehicle connected to the same by Open hooks two subscribing Witnesses. a with the levers Dand arms F, substantially l Aas set forth.v JOHN D. MOREY.

v 2. The combination of the shafts, with their open hooks, the levers D, their arms F, and VVit'nesses: the curveflbar E,With the spring-rod I, project- HARY HOWSON, Jr., ing into the vehicle, as set forth. HARRY SMITH. 

